I have been getting a ton of question of late regarding what I do with our duck eggs and from people just looking for new ideas. Duck eggs are getting more and more popular everyday and there is a ton of info out there on the internet, but as I always say stick with websites and blogs you trust, these days anyone with a computer and a stove has a cooking blog. Duck eggs are great for frying, amazing for baking and will help you create the richest custard you have ever had. Also if you are doing the gluten free thing nothing better for helping to hold ingredients together than a duck egg. Here are some great recipes from around the web… enjoy ~Rj

Raw duck yolks are thick, rich, and custardy. Many pastry chefs feel that because of that the duck eggs are superior when making cream and custard fillings. They tend to be higher in albumen and fat than a chicken egg. This means that your baked goods will have a richer texture, stay moist longer, and rise higher than you ever imagined.

Here’s a tip – when baking gluten free use duck eggs. The added protein in the whites will help bind the gluten free ingredients better and cause the texture to be lighter, fluffier, and more like wheat based cakes and other baked goods.

Things to Keep in Mind

A duck egg is heavier and larger than a hen’s egg and therefore needs more cooking time. Duck eggs are also more suitable for certain recipes than other egg types because they have a richer taste and a higher fat content in the yolk. And while duck eggs work well in baked products where they are thoroughly cooked, they may have a ‘rubbery’ texture when hard boiled, scrambled or thoroughly fried. But because duck eggs must be fully cooked so that both the yolk and white are solid (to avoid possible Salmonella infection), it is essential only to use them in dishes that can be thoroughly cooked. And while the temptation is great, don’t taste (or let your children taste) raw baking mixes or lick spoons!

You should not assume that lightly poached or lightly cooked duck eggs are safe to eat. Duck eggs are also not suitable as ingredients for lightly cooked recipes like tiramisu, icing, homemade mayonnaise or hollandaise sauce. What also sets duck eggs apart is that their shells are harder than those of hen’s eggs. Any dirt, ‘tint’ or staining on the shell could well get into the cooking with the egg, so it’s essential that the finished dish is fully cooked through. And it’s just as important to remember that your hands should be thoroughly washed with warm water and soap and dried completely before you touch any other food or utensils.

If you’ve never owned backyard chickens, there are a few things about fresh eggs that you might not have ever known. Fresh eggs are actually quite different from store-bought eggs in a number of ways. Not only are they better for you nutritionally, particularly from our hens that are allowed to free range, fed an amazing diet of organic produce and a special no soy no corn organic feed, and here are a few other differences…

The Yolks Are Darker and Tastier

Our girls yolks can be considerably darker than you are used to seeing from store bought eggs. Beautiful dark orange yolk, very different from the pale yellow yolk you are used to from conventional eggs. That darker shade is evidence of a healthy diet that includes greens, grass and bugs, and not only is it far more visually appealing it is much tastier and nutritious than those other anemic store bought versions.

Fresh Eggs Last For Months. Unrefrigerated.

When an egg has just been laid, it is covered with a special protective coating called the “bloom”. You can’t see it or feel it, but it’s there. This coating helps protect the potential developing chick from being exposed to bacteria through the porous eggshell. When that bloom has been washed off, that layer of protection is lost, and eggs begin to spoil due to bacteria being absorbed through the shell.

Store-bought eggs have been washed before being packaged, so they have a very limited shelf life. Our fresh eggs, on the other hand, will last for several months even without refrigeration as long as the bloom has not been washed off, and the eggs are stored in a cool environment.

Hard Boiling Fresh Eggs

If you’ve ever tried to hard boil a fresh egg, you might know the feeling of wanting to throw the whole darned thing against the wall. That shell just does not want to come off! You can give them a couple of weeks to sit before boiling them, so that the membrane has time to break down and loosen from the shell, OR… you can use this trick:

. Fill a medium sized pot with enough water to slightly cover your eggs, and bring it to a full rolling boil.

. Carefully submerge room temperature eggs into the pot.

. Bring it back to a boil, reduce heat to med/low, and continue a light boil for 15 min.

. When finished cooking, pour off the hot water and cover the eggs with ice cold water. Allow them to sit until cool. The shells will slip right off!

If you want the freshest chicken one can offer, you can swing by the farm today between 3-7pm or Thursday between 3-6pm. Now, the USDA recommends that you only keep a refrigerated bird for 2 days before freezing it. I tend to think they can be a little overzealous with some of their rules and recommendations, but that’s just my own personal opinion. That being said, if you still want a fresh bird for dinner Friday night and can’t make it until then, I can keep your bird fresh for you until you can pick it up between 2-6pm (you’ll just be over the 2 day mark by a few hours). If I don’t hear from you by Thursday night, I’ll err on the side of caution and freeze it for you. Just to recap;

Today 3-7pm (fresh)

Thursday 3-6pm (fresh)

Friday 2-6pm (frozen or fresh on request)

OLD TOWN SCOTTSDALE MARKET PICK UP

Please contact us via email at purplekarat@gmail.com, and let us know what Saturday you would like to pick up your chicken. Due to timing, the chicken will have to be delivered frozen.

I’d like to thank you for deciding to try out our first ever farm-raised birds. We truly hope you enjoy them and that you honestly taste the difference. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.